New Era, New Initiatives, New Achievements* 

October 25, 2017 

The First Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee has just elected a new central leadership. I was re-elected general secretary of the Central Committee. I see this as approval of my work, and a spur to further endeavors. 

Now, I wish to present to you the other six Standing Committee members elected at the session: Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng. Among them, Li Keqiang was a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the 18th CPC Central Committee, and the other five colleagues were members of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee. You can learn more about them from the media. So I have no need to elaborate. 

Here on behalf of the newly-elected central leadership, I wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the members of the Party for the great trust they have placed in us. We will work diligently to carry out our duties, fulfill our mission and merit their trust. 

Over the past five years, we have set out a broad agenda. Some tasks have been completed while others need further work. This Party congress has set new goals and new tasks; we must make coordinated efforts to see them through. 

Following decades of hard work, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. In this new context, we must undertake new initiatives, and more importantly, achieve greater success. The coming five years between the 19th and the 20th CPC national congresses are a period in which the timeframes of the Two Centenary Goals will converge. We must deliver the First Centenary Goal; we must also embark on the journey towards the Second Centenary Goal. As I look ahead to the next five years, I see several important junctures. 

In 2018 we will mark the 40th anniversary of the launch of reform and opening up. Reform and opening up is a crucial move that is shaping China's future. Forty years of reform and opening up has made it possible for our people to lead decent, comfortable lives. Reviewing our experience and building on a strong momentum, we will continue to modernize the state governance system and capacity, achieve deeper all-round reform, and open China still wider to the world. We will see that reform and opening up complement and reinforce each other. It is my conviction that the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will become a reality in the course of reform and opening up. 

In 2019, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. We will act on the new development philosophy, and strive for sustained and healthy economic growth that benefits people in China and all around the world. We will continue our efforts to accomplish all the tasks laid down in the 13th Five-year Plan, develop a new blueprint for China's future, and see all our endeavors bear fruit. These efforts will contribute towards a more prosperous and stronger People's Republic. 

In 2020, we will achieve moderate prosperity in all respects throughout the country. This is a society to be enjoyed by each and every one of us. On the march towards common prosperity, no one will be left behind. We will mobilize the whole Party and the whole country in the resolute push to deliver on our pledge – eradicating poverty in China. The aspiration of the people to live a better life must always be the focus of our efforts. We must remain committed to the people-centered philosophy of development, strive to guarantee and improve living standards, make steady progress towards enhancing our people's sense of gain, happiness and security, and realize common prosperity for all our people. I have no doubt that our people's lives will further improve year after year. 

In 2021, we will mark the centenary of the CPC. For the Party that champions the cause of lasting prosperity of the Chinese nation, this centenary sees us in the prime of life. As the world's largest political party, the CPC must behave in a way commensurate with its status. History makes it abundantly clear that our Party is equally capable of leading the people to spearhead a great social revolution and engaging in significant self-reform. We, as its members, must always be youthful in spirit, and forever be the servant of the people, the vanguard of the times, and the backbone of our nation. Exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party is a journey to which there is no end. We should never entertain the idea of slowing our pace or halting our step for a break; rather, we must continue to rid ourselves of any contaminant that erodes the Party's fabric, make great efforts to foster a healthy political environment of integrity, and generate waves of positive energy throughout our Party, which build to a mighty nationwide force driving China's development and progress. 

The CPC and the Chinese people have gone through trials and tribulations. These experiences have taught us that peace is precious and development must be valued. With confidence and pride, the Chinese people will be steadfast in upholding our country's sovereignty, security and development interests. We will also work with other nations to build a global community of shared future, and make a new and greater contribution to the noble cause of peace and development for all humanity. 

The people are the creators of history. It is to them that we owe all our achievements. As long as we keep close ties with the people and rely on them, we can and will have boundless strength to forge ahead whatever the circumstances. 

As a Chinese saying goes, it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times. We encourage members of the media to visit and see more of China. We hope that after this congress, you will continue to follow China's development and changes, and acquaint yourselves with and report on more dimensions of China. We do not need lavish praise from others. But we do welcome objective reporting and constructive suggestions, for this is our motto, "Not bent on praise for its bright colors, but on leaving its fragrance to all."¹

* Part of the speech at the press conference by members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee. 

Notes 

¹  Wang Mian: "Ink Plum" (Mo Mei). Wang Mian (1310-1359) was a painter and poet of the Yuan Dynasty. The allusion in the poem is to appreciate things for their qualities rather than their looks, and President Xi was indicating that while China seeks no flattery, it expects honest and balanced reporting. – Tr.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)